This post will cover 5 different tile transition strips for uneven floors. Technically, one of them isn’t a strip, but we’ll get to that.
The reason you are here is that you have:
- two floors where the heights don’t match
- you need some uneven floor transition ideas
- at least one of the floors is tile
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
But first, have you considered…
Making Your Uneven Tile Floors… Even?
I’ve written two posts, one talking about tile-to-wood transitions and the other about carpet-to-tile transitions.
Both posts have tips for making the two surfaces even. But not all floors are able to be flush with the neighboring floors.
In fact, uneven floor heights are common in older homes and with marble floor installations.
So, we’ll assume you’re unable to make the floors even. Consequently, here are some uneven floor transition ideas for tile.
The List of Uneven Floor Transition Strips
Uneven Floor Transition Strips Where at least One Floor is Tile
The most common metal profiles are going to deal with the tile being higher than the neighboring floor.
The first four transitions are designed to be installed at the time of tile installation.
1. Schluter Reno Ramp-U
This profile ramps from a higher tile down to a thinner neighboring surface. That surface could be a thin hardwood, carpet, or perhaps vinyl over a thin underlayment. Some variations may be ADA compliant.
Uneven Floor Transitions include:
- tile to wood
- tile to carpet
- tile to LVP
- Tile to vinyl
2. Schluter Reno TK
The Reno TK is mainly used for uneven tile to carpet transitions. It’s a bit thinner with a smaller profile than the Ramp-U, above. Additionally, the carpet tucks under the reducing ramp.
Uneven Floor Transition for:
- Tile to carpet
3. Schluter Reno Ramp
Reno Ramp is a great reducer for high-traffic areas especially with wheeled carts. It’s the widest one featured here and ramps down to the adjoining surface like concrete. Anodized aluminum finish only.
Uneven floor transitions include:
- Tile to concrete
4. Schluter Reno-V
This adjustable reducer is perfect for a variety of applications. The ramp uses a hinge to move up or down, allowing it to accommodate different flooring heights. Anodized aluminum finish only and can be used in heavy-use applications.
Uneven Floor transitions include:
- Tile to concrete
- Tile to carpet
- Tile to vinyl
- Tile to wood
- Tile to LVP
- Tile to tile
5. Marble Threshold
A marble or natural stone threshold is designed to extend past its neighboring floors and provide an elegant way of transitioning from one flooring to another.
These were used frequently in older homes with old mud-set tile floors. This is a great option, particularly if you are looking for a classic look
Uneven floor transitions include:
- Tile to tile
- Tile to hardwood
- Tile to carpet
- Tile to vinyl
There, you have 5 different ways to transition from uneven floor heights. Hopefully, this post will help you with your situation. In another post, I also talked about ways to use profiles to trim your wall tile edges.
Hi, James,
I’m glad I found your site. It’s been a treasure trove & MOST helpful so far, but I’ve been all over it and haven’t found my situation. Could you please help me?
AND, Yes. Of course I’m in a hurry to start laying the tile!
My hubby and I have remodeled our bottom floor condo completely by ourselves (except for the electrical and plumbing). We’ve done all the travertine 12″ & 14″ tiling: shower walls & floors, the floating hardwood flooring, and all the sheetrock & painting, and even resurfaced the ceilings with sheetrock mud.
NOW….
I have a 2’x7′ dry area of non-sealed {original} concreate-27 yrs old & exposed to the elements until glass enclosed last year…. BUT well cleaned and dry. It was a covered concreate patio with a red brick half “pony wall”… that is still there.
SO within my glass enclosed sunroom, I want to make a 2’x7′ area into a japanese inspired tiled area using:
[ “Allen + Roth River Rock Black Pebble Floor & Wall Mosaic” stones #1029769] –
Top surface of stones: FLAT “Polished” Matte finish
Actual “Real” size mesh squares: 11.81″x11.81″
StoneThickness: .039″
Of course the stones are various shapes around (mostly oblong) and sizes & have various widths of spaces between.
Most of these spaces are very narrow – 1/8″ or less – BUT there ARE a few spaces that are up to 1/2″ x 1&1/2″ odd shaped. So I’m assuming that I need to use a sanded grout – BUT don’t want to scratch the smooth, polished surface of the stones.
Top surface of stones: Polished Matte finish- I sealed the stones first a week ago with a matte finish sealer (that I used on my pebble shower floor). It is water beading and didn’t change the appearance of the stones at all. I do want them to look as natural as possible in their surface finish.
*** There could be SOME – hopefully VERY LITTTLE water, if I install a small water feature to sit on top of it. I know that non-bacteria encouraging products are needed….
Could you advise me on the following plan:
For Mortar/Thinset purposes: ( Yes, I did get your Exact Measurement Chart for Mixing Small Batch Thinsets ! )-thank you!
– Mapei Keraflex Plus Gray – (74 oz.) Right?
Trowel: either 1/8″ V notch OR 1/4″ square notch
–
Not a plan yet….is the following:
For Grout: I want either VERY DARK Gray or Black, to blend in with near-black stones.
For a final sealant over ALL: ???
Product Advice ???? Method Advice ???? Please Help!
Thanks very much in advance!!!!! Kathryn
For starters, I would use the 1/4 inch square notch trowel. I’m quite certain that the V-notch won’t put enough mortar down. The mortar choice should be fine.
Next, I would do a mock-up of your tile with the grout that you think you want. My opinion is that when you go black grout/black tile is that one of the blacks looks not very black. Consequently, you may think about going with a gray. But install a piece of the black pebbles onto some sort of backing and grout it so you can see what it looks like prior to grouting the whole thing.
For grout, you want a high performance cement grout. Mapei makes Ultracolor, Laticrete makes Permacolor, and Custom makes Prism. Any of those should work OK.
Then pick up a solvent-based grout sealer. There are options on those also. You might pick up one that is made by the same company as the grout.
Thanks for the questions.